Automatic sprinkler



- BEST AVAILABLE com Nov. 2 1926,

' F. J. H. RUSTIGE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed March 20. 1924 Inyenl' ofi Hans JokanHenrz/c Rvsfzge.

Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES BEST AVAILABLE Com PATENT ()FFICE.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Application filed March 20, 1924, Serial No. 700,670, and in Sweden March 12, 1923.

Automatic sprinklers, as used in fireextinguishing systems, usually consist of a valve plug, tightening against a seat in a movable wall or diaphragm, against which seat it is pressed by means of an easily fusible and (or) easily combustible locking member, at the melting or combustion of which the plug is disengaged and the water in the extinguishing system is let out through the uncovered opening of the valve. It may, however, frequently happen that the valve plug sticks in the opening of the diaphragm and does not become released therefrom at the bulging of the said diaphragm or movable wall under the pressure of the water at or after the destruction of the locking member. The object of this invention is to remove this inconvenience by a particular disposal of the valve opening in relation to the diaphragm Or the movable wall.

This disposal generally consists in placing the valve opening in such a relation to the circumference of the wall or diaphragm that the respective distances from different parts of the said circumference are unequal. This is accomplished either by giving the circumference a shape departing from the usual circular one or by placing the opening eccentrically in the diaphragm.

In the accompanying drawing two constructional forms of the invention are illustrated. Fig. 1 illustrates a vertical section of a sprinkler according to one of said forms, and Fig. 2 a plan view of the valve casing with an elliptical diaphragm arranged therein, the valve opening of which is placed centrally. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the other constructional form, and Fig. 4 a plan view of the corresponding valve casing with a circular diaphragm or wall, the opening of which is placed eccentrically.

a is the valve casing, connected to the water supply by means of the opening it and to a clamp b by screws d. Between this clamp b and the valve plug 7 an easily fusible or easily combustible locking member 9 is inserted, by means of which the plug is pressed against the opening 6 of the diaphragm or the movable wall 0, thus preventing the escape of the water from the system. The diaphragm c is normally pressed upwards against the plug 7, locked by the member 9, thus tightening the said plug against the valve seat, but if the locking member 9 is melted or otherwise destroyed by the heat at a fire the plug loses its support and is raised at the upward movement of the diaphragm. In the event of the plug sticking in the surrounding opening 6 the function of the device as already stated is entirely prevented, when the sprinkler is arranged in the usual manner. But in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, the diaphragm c is elliptical and the valve opening placed in its centre, for which reason the.

opening 6 at the upward bulging of the diaphragm (by the pressure of the water) is caused to alter its shape at the removal of the locking member, whereby the plug is released in spite of any tendency to stick in the opening.

In the constructional formillustrated in Figs. 3 and l the same result is obtained by the use of a circular diaphragm i with a valve opening j, placed eccentrically in same. This opening will. also change its shape at the upward bulging of the diaphragm and thereby facilitate the disengagement of the valve seat from the plug in case of the sticking of the latter.

In the foregoing description the fire extinguishing means have been supposed to be water but another liquid or gaseous means (as carbonic acid, carbon tetrachloride) may obviously be used without affecting the character of the invention.

Having now particularly described the nature of my invention and the manner'of its operation, what I claim is:

1. An automatic sprinkler comprising a valve plug, a movable diaphragm having avalve seat therein for said plug so located that, within each quarter of the diaphragm, the respective distances on radial lines from such seat to different points in the periphery of the diaphragm are unequal, and a locking member for the plug easily destructible by heat.

2. An automatic sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 characterized thereby, that the valve seat is placed eccentrically in the diaphragm.

FRANS JOHAN HENRIK RUSTIGE. 

